Pocket hand-lamp.



J. 0. FORD.

POCKET HAND LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7. 1917- 1,257,596. Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1. 0. FORD. POCKET HAND LAMP.

APPLICATION F ILED MAY I? 1911.

Patented Feb. 26,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 jfivenior 0656 2972 6%792 0 fiz? s.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPH C. FORD, 015 MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 FRENCH BATTERY & CARBON 00., OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

POCKET HAND-LAMP.

Application filed May 17, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPir 0. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of lVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pocket I-Iand- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pocket hand lamps of the type commonly known as flash lamps, comprising broadly a case, an electric light bulb, and a dry battery, so combined that the electric bulb is lighted by a current supplied by the dry battery.

The object of this invention is to provide a switch for connecting the battery and the electric bulb, located substantially between the two, thereby reducing the number of parts required, and simplifying those which are used, thus doing away with the danger of short-circuiting, resulting in electrical injury to the battery and lamp, and also doing away with some of the mechanical injuries which result with other types of devices if the lamp as a whole is suddenly jarred by dropping or otherwise.

The invention consists in a device capable of carrying out the foregoing objects; which can be very easily and cheaply made; which is satisfactory in operation, and is not readily liable to get out of order. The invention is divided into two parts, comprising the switch mechanism proper between the lamp and battery, and an improved form of operating device mounted in the side of the case for moving and locking the parts of the switch proper. More specifically, the invention consists in the features and details of construction which will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views, the invention is shown applied to a pocket hand lamp of the ordinary eylindrical type, but obviously, it may be applied to such lamps of any cross-sectional area without departing from this invention.

Figure 1 is a central detail view partially in section through a cylindrical hand lamp equipped with the device of this invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the essential parts of this invention, looking at the mechanism of Fig. 1 from the right.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Serial No. 169,365.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. at is a perspective view of an improved form of switch operating mechanism, preferably used in connection with the switch forming the principal feature of this invention.

Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive illustrate modified arrangements of the switch parts of this invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view in a modified form of the device, inwhich a fiber case instead of a metal case is used.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the metallic connector running lengthwise of the case.

Fig. 13 is a plan view taken on the line 13. 13 of Fig. 11.

The pocket hand lamp shown in the drawing comprises a tubular metallic case 15 closed at its bottom end with a cap 16' and its upper end with a cap 18, perforated to allow the lens 20 to protrude in the usual manner. Immediately adjacentto and inside the lens 20 is the usual parabolic reflector 2 provided with an electric light bulb 24 whose outer te minal 26 is connected through the metal of the reflector 22 to the metallic case or shell 15, and thence through the spring 28 to the lower terminal of the battery 30 contained within the lower por tion of the lamp case 15. This construction includes means comprising a central terminal of the electric light bulb and the upper tern'iinal 34 of the battery 30 opposite but separated from each other a substantial distance, as shown.

In order to provide means for selectively detachably connecting these terminals 32 and 34 without it being possible for them to acci dentally contact each other, an insulating plug or ring 36 is interposed between the two terminals 32 and 34. This ring is preferably made to fit the shell 15 so tightly that even though the lamp as a whole be dropped in inverted position so that the lamp 20 strikes a hard resistance, the impact of the battery 30 cannot drive the ring 36 against the lamp bulb 2a and thus break it. The upper side of the insulating member 36 is provided with a suitable electric conduct-or or switch member, preferably a strip of brass, 37 in contact with the central terminal 32 of lamp bulb 24, and suitably held in place with reference to the insulating men ber 86, as for instance, by a rivet. The outer or free end 84" of the brass strip 3'? projects into a suitable perforation d0, extending vertically through the insulating member Similarly, the underside of insulating member 36 is provided with an electrical conductor or switch member, such for instance as brass strip L2, held in place by a screw A, so that the strip contacts with the upper terminal 3st of battery 30, the battery being held in this position by the spring 28, heretofore described. lhis conductor 4'52 has an L-shaped end extending up into the opening 40, heretofore described, in ineniiber 8G. The parts of the preferred form of the device shown in 1 are normally so positioned that the switch ends 3-7 and. do not contact with each other and consequently there is no current flowing through the battery-lamp circuit, but obviously when switch ends 3? and t2 are brought together, the circuit will be completed through the electric lightbulb and battery, with resulting illumination of the lamp filament 46.

In order to move switch member e2, which is resilient material, from the position of Fig. 1 to a position wherein its end 4.2 con employed, but it is preferred that the form shown in the drawings be used. The switch operating mechanism of this invention consists, in its preferred form, of a sliding bar 50 carrying at its upper end a block of insulating material 52. The bar proper is located, as shown, inside the case 15, but it is in fact continuous in one piece with the U-shaped spring member 5 i-5i5, lying outside the case 15, and terminating in the outwardly turned locking member 58, clearly appearing in Fig. T is juncture of parts 50 and 5%, he *e'tofore described, is cut aw y on opposite sides at 60 and as shown, to provide bearing surfaces at (30 and 62 against the side edges of a slot formed lei gt .wise of the case 15. This slot G l is of such a length that the members 50, 5 1, and 56 can be moved backward and forward longitudinally of case 15 suiiiciently to cause switch member ends 3'? and 4:2 to contact each other and release one from the other. This switch operating member just described is hand manipulated by the operator through the agency of a rivet head G6 projecting through an elongated slot ('38 in a suitable cover plate or housing attached to the case 15 by any suitable means, such as rivets 72. This case or housing 70 is of peculiar formation, in that it has stamped in its surface a recess 74 adapted to receive the loci:- ing end 58 of member 56. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the switch operating mechanism is locked in position through. the engagement of parts 58 eavens and 7s: and consequently the light switch cannot be closed until the operator has pressed upon member 66 and moved it inward against the spring action of members '-l-5(3, which are of resilient material, sutiicient distance so that member 58 clears the inner surface of housing 70 and consequently the operator can move the operating device upward and thus force the contact member 4-? into engagement with member 37, thus completing the circuit in the manner described.

It will be noticed that owing to the fact tlit the case 15 forms a part of the return circuit between the electric light bulb and the battery, it is always necessary to insulate the switch operating member from the switch members themselves. In the pre ferred form of the device which is, as heretofore stated, accomplished by the use of the insulating block attached to the oper ating member 50, but this positioning of the insulating member is not at all essential, as will clearly appear from Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive, of the drawings.

In Fig. 5, upper and lo ver switch members S0 and 82 are provided contactablc through the agency of an operating bar 8t, insulated from 82 by a block of insulating material 86, secured to member 82 at 88.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the device in which upper and lower contact members and 92 are provided, operatable by a push member 96, carrying on its end an insulating block 98. In this form of construction, the device operates reverscly to the mechanism of the preferred form in that the parts 9698 and attached mechanism are employed to hold the contacts 90 and 92 normally out of contact with each other, while the spring action of member 92 moves th m to closed circuit position, shown in l 6, whenever members 96 98 are moved downward sulliciently to permit thereof.

Fig. 7 shows the same construction as in Fig. (3, except that the insulating block r00 is secured upon the underside of switch member 92 by a rivet 102, while the oper ating bar 10%: carries no insulation.

Fig. 8 shows a construction identical with Fig. 3, except that an insulating block 106 is so attached to switch member 82 that the block extends downward therefrom instead of along the underside of switch member 89.

shows a structure similar to 5, except that the upper switch member 108 is uine ently shaped.

10 shows a modified form of construction showing upper and lowe' switch members 110 and 112 in which their respective ends engage each other through a plain fiat contact instead of through a wiping engagement as in the other forms of device. )bviously, the return contact between the ill) light bulb and battery may be made through a wire or metallic strip carried by a nonmetallic case whenever the latter is employed.

Such a structure is shown in Figs. ll, 12 and 13, in which the case 15" is made oi fiber or some other non-metallic member and the. electric connection between the metallic reflector .22 and the metallic bottom, 1 of the case is made by a metallic strip 100 suitably inserted inside the fiber wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is r- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a suitable case containing a battery and an electric lamp, each having two terminals, means connecting one terminal of the battery with one terminal of the lamp, the other two remaining terminals being in proximity to each other, an insulating plate between the lastmentioned terminals off the lamp and battery, switch members on opposite sides of said insulating plate contacting respect'vely the adjacent lamp and battery terminals, there being a recess formed in the insulating plate through which said switch members are movable into contact, and means operated from outside the lamp case adapted to cause said switch members to operatively contact one with the other, for the purposes set forth.

.2. In a device of the class described, a relatively long casing, a battery and an electric light bulb retained within the casing in general alinement one with the other so that one terminal of the light bulb is opposite one terminal of the battery, means electrically connecting the opposite terminals of ti e lamp and battery, an insulating member secured inside the case between the unconnected ends of the lamp bulb and battery adapted to prevent movement of the battery toward the lamp bulb, metallic switch members on opposite sides of the insulating member so arranged as to be movable in plane containing the longitudinal axis of the case into contact one with the other, and means operatable from outside the case for operatively connecting said switch members.

In a device ot the class described, a lamp case, a dividing partition across the case, perforated in one portion, a pair of switch members on opposite sides of the partition having their ends extending into the perforation in the partition and adapted to contact one with the other, and an operating member manipulatable from outside the case adapted to move one of the switch members with reference to the other.

4;. In a device oi the class described, a lamp case. a lamp and battery in the case, a dividing partition across the case between move one of the switch members with ret-v crencc to the other.

5. In a device of the class described, a lamp case, a dividing partition across the case. pert'orated in one portion, a pair of switch members on opposite sides of the partition having their ends extending into the perforation in the partition and adapted to contactone with the other, an operating member manipulatable from outside the case adapted to move one of the switch members with reference to the other, and insulating means interposed between the operating member and the switch member which it moves, for the purposes set forth.

(1. In a device of the class described, a metallic case, an electric battery occupying one end of the case and having one terminal connected thereto, an electric light bulb occupying the other end of the case and having one terminal connected thereto, switch contact members movable into and out oi contact with each other normally insulated from each other, interposed between the lamp bulb and the battery so as to permanently contact respectively with one terminal oil the lamp and one terminal of the battery, means operated from outside the case for operatively contacting said switch members, and an insulating device between said operating member and the switch member, for the purposes set forth.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a battery case, a housing lupon the outside of the case, separated therefrom, a switch operating member consisting of a bar movable inside the case lengthwise thereof, integrally connected to a spring member correspondingly movable inside the housing between the housing and case. means operatable from outside the housing for reciprocating the spring memher in the housing and compressing the spring, and a member on the spring entering a depression on the housing, releasable therefrom when the spring is compressed, for the purposes set forth.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a battery case, a housing upon the outside of the case, separated tiere'from, a switch operating member consisting of a bar movable inside the case lengthwise thereof, integrally connected to a spring member correspondingly movable inside the housing between the housing and case, means operatable from outside the housing for compressing the spring and a member on the spring entering a depression on the housing, releasable therefrom when the spring is compressed, for the purposes set forth.

9. A device of the class described, the combination of a case, a switch operating member comprising a Z-shaped piece of spring metal 505456, cut away on opposite sides at one bend of the 2 as at 60 and 62 so as to permit sliding of the member in a slot formed in the case With one bar of the 2 inside the case and the remainder outside thereof; a housing 70 attached to the outside of the case and inclosing the portions of the operating member, which are outside the case, and means operatable from outside the housing for compressing the operating member and for reciprocating said operating member.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH 0. FORD. Witnesses:

W. S. MARVIN, H. S. CHENEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

